Crash proof solenoid controlled valve with manual override valve

Abstract

A solenoid controlled valve is mounted in a threaded opening of a pressure vessel which contains compressed natural gas. The valve includes a valve body having a head, which is exposed outside of the pressure vessel, and a neck, which is located within the pressure vessel. A solenoid poppet valve is mounted to the inner end of the neck. A valve seat is mounted in a bore within the valve body. An orifice at an inner end of the valve seat exposes a flow passage between the bore of the valve body and an outlet port, which is located in the head of the valve body. The solenoid poppet valve includes a seal for closing the orifice, a bias spring which biases the seal toward the seat to close the orifice, a plunger which is connected to the seal, and a solenoid coil which, when energized, moves the plunger so that the seal moves out of engagement with the seat and permits flow of compressed gas from the interior of the pressure vessel to the outlet port. A section of the flow passage near an outer end of the valve seat includes a threaded surface, into which is threaded a manual override valve. The manual override valve is capable of being selectively positioned to block the flow passage between the solenoid valve and the outlet port.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A valve for controlling flow of compressed gas from a pressure vessel, the valve comprising: a valve body having a head and a neck; the head having an outlet port; the neck having external threads for engagement with the pressure vessel, having an inner end, and having a bore which extends from the inner end to the outlet port;   a valve seat mounted in the bore and having an orifice at an inner end and a flow passage extending between the orifice and the outlet port;   a manual override valve between the orifice and the outlet port for selectively sealing the flow passage; and   a solenoid valve mounted to the inner end of the neck, the solenoid valve including a seal for closing the orifice.   
     
     
       2. A valve for controlling flow of compressed gas from a pressure vessel, the valve comprising: a valve body having a head with an outlet port and having a neck which is inserted into and is connected to an opening in the pressure vessel;   a solenoid poppet valve mounted to the neck and having an outer dimension which permits the solenoid poppet valve to be located within the pressure vessel, the solenoid poppet valve being normally closed and opening in response to a control signal to permit gas flow from the pressure vessel to the outlet port; and   a manual override valve, positioned between the solenoid poppet valve and the outlet port, for selectively blocking gas flow between the pressure vessel and the outlet port.   
     
     
       3. The valve of claim 2 wherein the solenoid poppet valve comprises: a valve seat having an orifice and a flow passage leading from the orifice to the outlet port;   a seal for closing the orifice;   means for biasing the seal toward the seat; and   a solenoid for moving the seal away from the seat in response to the control signal.